Planning & Community Development

From Class Project to President of the Board

Author:Anonymous

Tracy Purdy (CDEV ‘17/CTRP ’18) feels like the last 11 months have been a blur. As part of a project for Professor Jeff Doshna’s Community Based Organizations course in the Fall of 2015, students were instructed to write an in-depth profile of an organization doing community development work and write a strategic plan for the organization. The project involved interviewing employees, board members, and community stake-holders to learn as much as possible about the organization.

“In interviewing the people involved in Mosaic Community Land Trust in Pottstown, I quickly realized that I cared deeply about the same issues the CLT is working on, namely affordable, sustainable housing, community gardening, and raising awareness of the arts and culture events in a city I love. I knew I wanted to get involved, so I became a member!”

Membership in the community land trust led to volunteer opportunities, which in turn led to an internship with the organization, for which Tracy received class credit through Community Development Internship & Professional Practice. “I worked primarily on a membership drive and researched non-traditional funding for sustainable affordable housing projects. It was an incredible learning experience.”

Just before the semester ended, Tracy was asked to serve on the board of directors, and in June, was elected President of the Board. “I am really looking forward to continuing my deep involvement in this organization that is making such a difference in its community, and to the valuable experience I will gain through serving on the board. This is an opportunity that never would have happened if it weren’t for my class project!”